Formula One Autocentres - Kettering

"I booked my car here for MOT and servicing and upon arrival was told my car won’t be seen therefore the trip over was a complete waste. No explanation or apology just a surly gruff attitude from whoever was running the desk. Absolutely no consideration whatsoever for the fact I’d take a day off work and zero customer care! Got a refund through after complaining but would never return to anything run by this company, disgusting way to treat customers. Seems to be a pattern of shoddy customer service though judging from other reviews!"

"I wasn't going to post this publicly but as I spent 2 hours on the F1 customer website writing a complaint which was rejected as I am apparently a robot, then spent another 2 hour rewriting it I am now a bit angry so here is my feedback for you all to enjoy. To summarise; The vehicle was delivered to F1 with no faults and running well. The vehicle was returned in a worse condition; a more unsafe and in a very dangerous and unroadworthy condition; and in a dirtier condition than when it was delivered to F1 in Kettering. When collected engine warning, VSA stability control warning light, battery warning, engine misfiring, smoking etc. Manager stated a number of advisory's were on the service document. Car had no warning lights or faults showing before service. 1. My daughter is a community physio & has to sterilize & sanitise her hands before & after every appointment. The steering wheel was in a filthy condition. See attached photo. I cleaned it with a wet wipe within 1 minute. Surely your technicians should wipe the contact surfaces after the service - even just for hygene purposes. 2. I only had a couple of minutes to check the service checklist & obviously I'm limited in what I can inspect, but I question whether a full service was carried out. see photos. No greasing of accessible hinges - door, bonnet etc as stated in your full service.... as I can photograph them I think they are accessible? No greasing of the battery terminals - see the cobweb on the terminal - not even inspected I think? These are not on the interim service BUT ARE ON FULL SERVICE. So what else has been missed? 3. It states the car was road tested, before & after the service for checking purposes and warning lights and concerns highlighted. It clearly was not road tested after the service as these warnings would have been reported at the time. Did you even inspect it beforehand? If not then you are not carrying out your contract as stated proof of which is that I would have been asked to sign a disclaimer for the VSA fault on Monday after the full service as I was on Tuesday after the tyre change & told it was dangerous to drive. On Wednesday engine stalled at 3000 revs in rush hour traffic nearly causing an accident & I returned it to F1. I was told that as they hadn't replaced any parts I may need to pay £45 for a diagnostic on engine & stability system. If it was F1 issue then free. Outcome - a wire on air filter system had worked loose causing engine misfire. A connection on the brake had somehow worked loose & disabled the stability control. F1 fixed without charge. They have been very good in the past but this was just unprofessional & unacceptable, & I am particularly upset about the suggestion about the way the car was driven that caused the problem rather than the shoddy workmanship at the garage. I have written for a second time to customer services and await a response."

"My wife took her Nissan Note for an MOT and service. Did service first. Found major failure but went ahead and did the MOT anyway knowing it would fail! Though she had a weeks grace on the MOT this was immediately invalidated. Left my Wife without a car for 2 days as they did not have the right indicator light spare part. She refused to pay for the MOT re-test. She lost a day's work as a result. Then they found out that it didn't need a new part as it was only a loose wire! Do not go to this garage under any circumstances. They entice you with a cheap MOT/service and then hit you with additional charges."

"Very bad experience!.. They brok my car…. I make appointment to change clutch on my BMW… in afternoon when I called them to check if my car is ready they tell me another price which was nearly doubled what I explain to them. They should call me before starting the job…. I accept the price because I need a car and they say the car will be ready. In the next two hours when I went there, the car won’t start for some reason.! After four days, my car was fixed bar in three weeks time I had same problem. Car doesn’t want to start this problem. I never had before.. please keep away for this Garaj one of the bad experience they are not professional…"

"Josh at reception was very helpful and polite, got my car booked in for tracking even though it was a last minute request and he managed to fit in the same day and got it done before the expected time given. Great bunch of guys and definitely know how to keep or bring a new customer in. Definitely be my goto from now on."